Here’s the one big poopy thing about depression.
It stops normal operations.
- You know you can do things. You’ve done them in the past.
- You know you will do things. It’s built into you, and you will do them in the future.
- You know you want to do things now. But you just don’t have the juice.
Depression overrides the normal operating procedures.
The condition (and it is a condition – it’s happening to you) resets the bar for getting things done.
And not just physical activities. Mental, personal and emotional activities.
How can you get through this stage?
Flip the script.
- Before, you wanted to be okay, but you still feel awful.
- After, you’ll be okay, but for now you goveyourself permission to feel poopy.
Does this make sense?
Let’s run through some more.
- Before, you know that doing something (anything!) would make you feel better, but you don’t know how to start
- After, you accept there’s not much “start”, so the idea of doing – while nice – is put aside for later.
Get it?
- You feel unloved. People do love you. You can’t feel it.
- That’s okay. Give yourself permission to feel that.
- You try to get well, but feel like your doomed to fail.
- That’s okay. Give yourself permission to feel that too.
By giving permission for these feeling to exist, you take control of what’s normal for you.
And there’s power in that.
Even if all you do with that power is give yourself permission to get better while covered in blankets. That is also okay. It is your choice how to operate until conditions improve.
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